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tastytrade might be for you if: You're an active trader, especially if you trade options or futures contracts. Its trading technology and options pricing schedule are among the best in the business. Additionally, tastytrade offers stock trading capabilities and a mobile app. In this tastytrade review, we'll explore the features, pros, and cons to help you decide if it might be the right stock broker for you.
tastytrade
A solid pick for options and futures investors wanting both a high-quality trading platform and cheap commissions. What's more, tastytrade's mobile app simplifies on-the-go options trading.
$0 for stocks, $1 per option contract (opening trades only), $0 per crypto purchase and sale
$0
4% Cash Match (up to $10,000) + 30 Days Commission-Free
We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2026.
| Broker | Best For | Commissions | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Full-service investing at every experience level | $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETFs*. No account fees****. |
Learn More for Fidelity
On Fidelity's Secure Website. |
4.90/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Low-cost investing with a full-featured platform | $0 stock, ETF, and Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource® trades. No fees to buy fractional shares. |
Learn More for Charles Schwab
On Charles Schwab's Secure Website. |
4.80/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Low fees on stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options | $0 on trades of stocks, ETFs and their options. Other fees may apply. |
Learn More for Robinhood
On Robinhood's Secure Website. |
An options-first broker for trading affordably, tastytrade combines a unique and affordable fee structure with a powerful interface. tastytrade's narrow focus on options and futures-trading makes it one of the best places to trade both. Additionally, you can trade stocks and ETFs commission-free on the platform.
"I don't trade options, so tastytrade doesn't tempt me. Though it does offer free stock trading, which I care about, the platform caters to options traders first and foremost."
- Cole Tretheway, Motley Fool Money writer with financial expertise in brokerages
tastytrade is aimed at active options and futures traders, and this is reflected in the available investments and account types. For example, unlike many top online stock brokers, it does not offer mutual funds. Nor does it offer SIMPLE IRAs or Solo 401(k)s. To trade futures, you'll need to qualify for The Works -- tastytrade's highest level of trading account.
TIP
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tastytrade's pricing is one of its more unique features, especially for options trading. At first glance, tastytrade's $1 per contract options commission might sound high. However, bear in mind that:
Here's a breakdown of other common commissions and fees:
| Reason | Cost |
|---|---|
| Stocks and ETFs | $0 |
| Options |
$1.00 per contract (opening trades only) (Max $10 per leg) |
| Crypto | $0 to open and $0 to close |
| Futures | $1.00 per contract to open and close |
| Mutual Funds | Not available |
| ACH Deposits & Withdrawals | Free |
| Outgoing wire transfers (domestic/foreign) | $25/$45 |
| Returned check fee | $30 |
| Paper statements | $5 per statement |
| Paper trade confirmations | $2 each |
| IRA closing fee | $60 |
If you use margin (borrowed money), you'll pay interest, just as you would on any other type of loan. tastytrade's margin rates are in the middle of the pack -- they aren't particularly cheap or expensive. Like most of its competitors, the rate depends on how much you've borrowed:
| Margin Balance | Interest Rate |
|---|---|
| Under $25,000 | 11.00% |
| $25,000-$49,999 | 10.50% |
| $50,000-$99,999 | 10.00% |
| $100,000-$249,999 | 9.50% |
| $250,000-$499,999 | 9.00% |
| $500,000-$999,999 | 8.50% |
| $1 million or more | 8.00% |
tastytrade is primarily designed as a trading platform (as opposed to a long-term buy-and-hold investment platform). Therefore, you won't find much of the traditional stock research that many other brokers offer. It does provide fundamental data such as balance sheets and cash flows, but you won't be able to access in-depth research reports.
On the plus side, tastytrade features a big library of in-platform video content. This includes beginner courses on options and futures trading, as well as advanced courses on trading strategies. The tastylive stream also lets you watch options traders ranging from novice to expert in real time. Investors can even copy their investment strategies with a click of a button. tastylive is a separate but affiliated financial network.
tastytrade's desktop trading platform is its most powerful and full-featured choice. You can also trade via a web browser and the company's mobile app. tastytrade's trading platform was developed by the team that pioneered retail options trading. That deep knowledge shows through in its highly intuitive interface.
Put simply, it's tough to find a better place to actively trade options. The platform's high-tech options trading tools make complex options trading as user-friendly as possible. tastytrade has some of the best technology for experienced traders. That said, the breadth of features on offer can feel overwhelming at first. Indeed, the learning curve may be a bit much for new investors or someone who only plans to buy stocks and ETFs to hold for the long term.
READ MORE: Best Options Trading Platforms
Use tastytrade on your mobile device to manage your investments, access advanced charting tools, stock fundamentals, and more. It's an excellent way to place orders on the go. Personal watchlists on both the app and desktop make it easy to track specific stocks. You can open and close positions, set price alerts, view charts, read recent news, and more.
READ MORE: Best Free Stock Trading Apps
The app has fewer features than the desktop. But it still benefits from the same user-first principles that drive the whole brokerage. tastytrade's mobile app is highly rated for both Android and Apple devices. Be aware that some users complain of glitches, especially after updates.
tastytrade generally gets good reviews on Trustpilot. Users are full of praise for the knowledgeable support team who go the extra mile.
Contact its customer service team in office hours in the following ways:
tastytrade's security measures are in line with many other top brokerages. It uses data encryption, real-time monitoring, and strong internal protocols to protect your account. Two-factor authentication is available at a user level. Accounts are covered by the SIPC against brokerage failure.
The executive team behind tastytrade, formerly Tastyworks, are both seasoned traders and tech heavyweights. CEO Scott Sheridan co-founded thinkorswim, now TD Ameritrade's active trading platform. The rest of the tastytrade team all held executive roles when thinkorswim was still independent. tastytrade's high-tech trading platform is born from staff experience and desire to give active retail options traders the tools they need.
Keep reading about tastytrade on these pages:
At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and account types; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and highly rated mobile apps. Our highest-rated brokerages generally include low fees, a diverse range of assets and account types, and useful platform features.
See our full methodology here: Ratings Methodology
Motley Fool Stock Disclosures
Cole Tretheway has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Emma Newbery has positions in Apple and Ethereum. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, Best Buy, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Interactive Brokers Group, Intuit, and Target. The Motley Fool recommends Flow and recommends the following options: long January 2027 $43.75 calls on Interactive Brokers Group and short January 2027 $46.25 calls on Interactive Brokers Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.tastytrade disclosure
tastytrade, Inc. (“tastytrade”) has entered into a Marketing Agreement with The Motley Fool (“Marketing Agent”) whereby tastytrade pays compensation to Marketing Agent to recommend tastytrade’s brokerage services. The existence of this Marketing Agreement should not be deemed as an endorsement or recommendation of Marketing Agent by tastytrade and/or any of its affiliated companies. Neither tastytrade nor any of its affiliated companies is responsible for the privacy practices of Marketing Agent or this website. tastytrade does not warrant the accuracy or content of the products or services offered by Marketing Agent or this website. Marketing Agent is independent and is not an affiliate of tastytrade.
tastytrade was previously known as tastyworks, Inc.
Fidelity disclosure
Investing involves risk, including risk of loss
* - $0.00 commission applies to online U.S. equity trades and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in a Fidelity retail account only for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC retail clients. Sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee (historically from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). Other exclusions and conditions may apply. A limited number of ETFs are subject to a transaction-based service fee of $100. See full list at Fidelity.com/commissions. Employee equity compensation transactions and accounts managed by advisors or intermediaries through Fidelity Institutional® are subject to different commission schedules.
**Fidelity Crypto® is offered by Fidelity Digital Assets®. Investing involves risk, including risk of total loss. Crypto as an asset class is highly volatile, can become illiquid at any time, and is for investors with a high risk tolerance. Crypto may also be more susceptible to market manipulation than securities. Crypto is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Investors in crypto do not benefit from the same regulatory protections applicable to registered securities. Fidelity Crypto® accounts and custody and trading of crypto in such accounts are provided by Fidelity Digital Asset Services, LLC, which is chartered as a limited purpose trust company by the New York State Department of Financial Services to engage in virtual currency business (NMLS ID 1773897). Brokerage services in support of securities trading are provided by Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (“FBS”), and related custody services are provided by National Financial Services LLC (“NFS”), each a registered broker-dealer and member NYSE and SIPC. Neither FBS nor NFS offer crypto as a direct investment nor provide trading or custody services for such assets. Fidelity Crypto and Fidelity Digital Assets are registered service marks of FMR LLC.
***Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Before trading options, please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.
****Zero account minimums and zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Expenses charged by investments (e.g., funds, managed accounts, and certain HSAs) and commissions, interest charges, or other expenses for transactions may still apply. See Fidelity.com/commissions for further details.
Robinhood disclosure
Margin borrowing increases your level of market risk, as a result it has the potential to magnify both your gains and losses. Before using margin, customers must determine whether this type of strategy is right for them given their investment objectives and risk tolerance. Regardless of the underlying value of the securities you purchased, you must repay your margin loan. Robinhood Financial can change its maintenance margin requirements at any time without prior notice. If the equity in your account falls below the minimum maintenance requirements (varies according to the security), you’ll have to deposit additional cash or acceptable collateral. If you fail to meet your minimums, Robinhood Financial may be forced to sell some or all of your securities, with or without your prior approval. For more information please see Robinhood Financial’s Margin Disclosure Statement, Margin Agreement and FINRA Investor Information.
Margin trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Borrowing on margin increases your level of market risk and can amplify both gains and losses.
Robinhood Financial may change maintenance margin requirements at any time without prior notice. If the equity in your account falls below minimum maintenance requirements, you may need to deposit additional cash or collateral. If those requirements are not met, Robinhood Financial may sell securities in your account without prior approval.
The 3% matching on annual contributions requires a subscription with Robinhood Gold ($5/mo) and customers must stay subscribed to Gold for 1 year from the date of the first eligible deposit to keep the full Gold match. The funds that earned the match must be kept in the account for at least 5 years to avoid a potential Early IRA Match Removal Fee. Match rate subject to change. Non-Gold customers receive a 1% match. Offer only applies to self-directed IRAs. For more information refer to the IRA Match FAQ.
You must have compensation (wage income) in order to contribute to an IRA. Funds being contributed into or distributed from retirement accounts may entail tax consequences. Contributions are limited and withdrawals before age 59 1/2 may be subject to a penalty tax. Robinhood does not provide tax advice; please consult with a tax adviser if you have questions.
The Robinhood IRA is available to any U.S. customer with a Robinhood brokerage account in good standing.
The 3% matching on annual contributions requires a subscription with Robinhood Gold ($5/mo) and customers must stay subscribed to Gold for 1 year from the date of the first eligible deposit to keep the full Gold match. The funds that earned the match must be kept in the account for at least 5 years to avoid a potential Early IRA Match Removal Fee. Match rate subject to change. Non-Gold customers receive a 1% match. Offer only applies to self-directed IRAs. For more information refer to the IRA Match FAQ.
You must have compensation (wage income) in order to contribute to an IRA. Funds being contributed into or distributed from retirement accounts may entail tax consequences. Contributions are limited and withdrawals before age 59 1/2 may be subject to a penalty tax. Robinhood does not provide tax advice; please consult with a tax adviser if you have questions.
The Robinhood IRA is available to any U.S. customer with a Robinhood brokerage account in good standing.
Robinhood Strategies charges an annual management fee of 0.25% on the net portfolio value of each managed account. Eligible Robinhood Gold subscribers pay no management fees on the portion of their managed account net portfolio value that exceeds $100,000, thereby limiting the annual management fee to $250. Other fees apply.
All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.
Brokerage services are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, ("RHF") a registered broker dealer (member SIPC) and clearing services through Robinhood Securities, LLC, ("RHS") a registered broker dealer (member SIPC).
RHF and RHS are not banks. All are separate but affiliated entities. Securities offered by RHF are not FDIC insured and involve risk, including possible loss of principal.
Robinhood Gold is a subscription-based membership program of premium services offered through Robinhood Gold, LLC.
Portfolio management of managed accounts by Robinhood Asset Management, LLC (“Robinhood Strategies”), an SEC-registered investment advisor.
Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before trading options.
Cryptocurrency trading is offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Trading and holding digital assets involves significant risk, including the risk of substantial loss. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected.
*Trading and owning digital assets involves significant risk, including the risk of substantial loss. Cryptocurrency trading is offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the
New York State Department of Financial Services. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected.
** Network fees may apply. Availability may be subject to regulatory approval in certain states.
